Q: The other day I was stopped in traffic when the brake pedal of my 2003 Toyota Camry went to the floor and I accelerated forward. Are there any recalls or bulletins on this particular Camry? Do you know any reason why this could have happened? Since then the brakes are working properly.
A: Since there were not any repairs made to the vehicle to correct the problem, which according to your letter is now OK, I can only think of one common fault. If you ride the brake, you will get the brake fluid very hot. When the brake fluid boils, it makes an air bubble in the system. With an air bubble, the brake pedal will drop to the floor. I suggest you go to a reputable, knowledgeable shop and have a complete brake examination. If all the brake components appear to be in good shape, you may want to request to have the brake fluid thoroughly flushed and replaced.
Q: I have a '95 Taurus wagon. My air conditioner comes on cold for long and short intervals, then it stays hot sometimes for two to three hours, and then it comes on cold again. This shows I have not lost any Freon. Could you help me with this problem?
A: It's obvious you have an electrical problem. The most common issue with this year car is the clutch magnet at the compressor gets quite weak after it heats up. It works like this, when you call for the cold air conditioning, the power is sent to the clutch through a series of switches. Any one of the switches or the connections could be at fault, but the clutch coil is the No. 1 problem with this car.
Q: I recently purchased a 1999 Infinity I-30 with 75,000 miles on the odometer. I was curious to know if new digital odometers can be tampered with. Are there telltale signs to see if it has been tampered with? Also I can't remember the Web page that shows a list of all cars that were deemed totaled and then restored.
A: Yes, digital odometers can be tampered with. The tampering is even easier than the old mechanical systems. The name of the Web site you are looking for is called "Carfax.com." Realize you will pay for the information. Your insurance agent should get you this information at no cost to you. With proper preparation, the car can be cleaned to resemble a 75,000 mile car. The best way to determine the mileage would be to do a title search, and contact the last owner of the vehicle to determine the mileage when he or she sold it.
Q: I have a 1989 Chevrolet Celebrity that I bought brand new. I have only 78,000 miles on it. I love the car, but when the weather gets hot, it has a stalling problem. It will stall once every three to five days. I have had it checked out, but they can't find the problem. Do you have any advice?
A: The most common problem with this car was the lock-up converter. It would not release the transmission when you came to a stop. Very similar to coming to a stop in a standard shift transmission car and not putting in the clutch. When you turn off the car, wait a short amount of time and start it. The transmission releases and you're off and running. One other problem from these older cars was the EGR valve used to hang up. Leave it with a good shop for several days, and they will find your problem.
Car Care Tip: Sticking brakes and low tire pressure increase the rolling resistance of your car and decrease your fuel mileage. These are two easily checked and repaired problems.
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Larry Rubenstein is a master technician who owns a North Shore service station. His column appears Sunday in WheelsNorth. Write to Larry c/o The Eagle Tribune, 100 Turnpike St., North Andover, MA 01845, or send e-mail to scanauto@aol.com.
